Chapter 33

I thought it would be better to wait a few days before taking Kaede to the city hall.

If I were to go alone to where Kaede is being protected, and then return to the city hall without much time passing, it would seem too unnatural. Well, maybe waiting two or three days would be fine.

After parting ways with the Oda group, I entered a nearby building and waited until nightfall before moving to the home center.

It had started raining at some point.

I wanted to use an umbrella, but unfortunately, I didn't have one, so I had to move while getting drenched. Although I was used to moving around in the rain from my life in the other world, it was still unpleasant.

I drove the car that I had parked near the home center the night before and left it at the main entrance of the city hall. I hadn't driven it there that night because I thought that if the car were left here while I was gone, someone unknown, especially someone who had "broken" due to the world's current state, might pass by and think someone was inside the store, potentially causing trouble.

It had been two full days since I left the home center, and I wondered if Kaede was doing well. I hoped she hadn't caught a cold again.

Such thoughts naturally came to mind, and I laughed at myself. I had already told her I would be gone for a few days, so why was I being so overprotective?

While thinking this, I casually cleaned up a zombie that had entered the first floor again and climbed the non-moving escalator. The barricades I had set up on the second and third floors were still intact. I sensed Kaede's presence, which I had registered in my aura detection.

At least she seems to be safe.

Relieved by this, I headed to the back room. My shoes made squelching sounds as I walked, still wet from the rain.

Knock knock

"Kaede, are you there?"

Of course, I knew she was there, but I called out to her anyway.

"…Is it you, Azami-san?"

A small voice replied from inside the room. She didn't open the door immediately, as I had instructed her.

"Yeah."

"I'll open it now!"

The sound of the lock turning, and the door opened. Kaede greeted me with an LED lantern. She was momentarily startled by my appearance in the riot gear but relaxed and smiled when she saw my face, then hugged me without warning.

"Welcome back, Azami-san!"

"Ah, yeah."

"Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, but… hey, you'll get wet, so let go."

I was confused by the sudden hug, but when Kaede squeezed me tighter and buried her face in my chest, I gently pulled her away.

"It's okay, really…"

"Did anything happen to you, Kaede?"

"Ah… no! I'm feeling much better, thanks to you."

Kaede pouted slightly but quickly smiled and answered energetically when I asked. I wasn't sure what was so amusing, but she didn't seem to be forcing herself.

"That's good. I'll go dry off over there."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You might catch a cold…"

"Don't worry about it."

I probably wouldn't catch a cold even if I did nothing. During the past few nights, I had tried using various skills within my range, and since all of them were working, I assumed the "Status Ailment Immunity" skill was also effective. I hadn't been sick once since acquiring this skill in the other world.

Still, being drenched was simply unpleasant, so I went to the men's changing room to change clothes.

I dropped my backpack on the floor, took off my wet clothes, and retrieved a change of clothes and a towel from my item box. I hung the wet clothes on a hanger in a locker to dry. After drying off and changing into fresh clothes, I felt much better.

By the way, before heading to the city hall, I had brought Kaede some clothes from one of the apartments. She would have gotten wet just now, even if she hadn't needed to. I might as well bring her some more.

Thinking this, I opened the item box again, took out a set of clothes, and left the changing room.